Instantaneous hot-water system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a hot-water system including a water tank with a water inlet and a water outlet for storing air-conditioning water; a pump motor, connected to the water outlet of the water tank through a connection pipe at one end thereof, circulating the air-conditioning water in the water tank by a pumping operation; an instantaneous water heater, connected to the other end of the pump motor by a connection pipe, instantaneously heating the air-conditioning water being circulated by the pumping operation of the pump motor; and an air-conditioning member, connected to both of the instantaneous water heater and the water tank to form an air-conditioning fluid path of a closed loop and guide the flow of the air-conditioning water; wherein the surface temperature of the air-conditioning member is increased by the heat of the air-conditioning water heated by the instantaneous water heater.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0027596, filed on Mar. 28, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hot-water system and more particularly to an instantaneous hot-water system which is equipped with an instantaneous water heater which intensively heats air-conditioning water by being installed on an air-conditioning water supply path so as to promptly supply heated air-conditioning water. The instantaneous hot-water system has a small heating capacity and a small radiation area because the instantaneous hot-water system can selectively heat only a predetermined volume of air-conditioning water, so that the instantaneous hot-water system consumes less power.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hot-water systems are generally used to heat air-conditioning water to a predetermined temperature, and usually use water as a fluid for air-conditioning. The hot-water system is mainly used in water heaters that supply warm water, and it is also used in boilers for indoor air-conditioning, warm-water cleaners (bidets), automatic bending machines, and the like.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional hot-water system 1 largely comprises a water tank 10, a pump motor 20, an air-conditioning member 30, and a controller. In the water tank 10, a water heater 40 for heating air-conditioning water, a level sensor 50 for detecting the presence or absence of the air-conditioning water, and a temperature sensor 60 for measuring and controlling the temperature are installed. That is, the water tank 10 acts not only as a water heater but also as air-conditioning water storage.

In general, the conventional water tank 10 has a storage capacity of 500 cc to 1 L. The water tank 10 is connected to the pump motor 20 that is used to circulate the air-conditioning water at the bottom thereof. The pump motor 20 is connected to a water inlet of the air-conditioning member 30, and a water outlet of the air-conditioning member 30 is connected to the water tank 10. In addition, a bimetal switch or a thermal fuse is embedded in the water tank 10 for the purpose of preventing fire due to overheating of the water heater.

The conventional air-conditioning member 30 is installed on a bed or the floor of a bed room, and is connected to a connection pipe 70 made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Here, the connection pipe 70 may be buried under the floor of the bedroom.

The hot-water system 1 can be installed in a manner that the air-conditioning member 30, the water tank 10, and the pump motor are installed first at a place where the hot-water system 1 is to be used, and after which the air-conditioning member 30, the water tank 10, and the pump motor 20 are connected to each other. After the installation, operation of the pump motor 20 is started while air-conditioning water is supplied to the water tank 10 so that the air-conditioning water heated to a predetermined temperature is circulated through hot-water pipes of the air-conditioning member 30.

When the level sensor 50 detects the air-conditioning water being present in the water tank 10, heating the water heater is started to heat the air-conditioning water in the water tank 10 to a temperature which is preset in a controller and, at the same time, operation of the pump motor 20 is started to supply the heated air-conditioning water into the air-conditioning member 30, so that the air-conditioning member 30 is kept warm.

The conventional hot-water system 1 is equipped with a built-in water heater in the water tank 10, so the hot-water system supplies hot air-conditioning water by increasing the temperature of the entire volume of water (about 500 cc to 1 L) in the water tank 10. Accordingly, even though the actual volume of the air-conditioning water to be supplied to the air-conditioning member 30 is at most 400 cc, the conventional hot-water system 1 must heat the entire volume of the air-conditioning water in the water tank 10 so that the conventional hot-water system 1 suffers from the consumption of a large amount of power. That is, in order to continuously heat and circulate the air-conditioning water stored in the water tank 10 and the air-conditioning water in the air-conditioning member 30, surplus air-conditioning water, which is 500 cc or more, has to be heated as well as a necessary volume of air-conditioning water, about 400 cc, so that energy is wasted.

Moreover, since the entire air-conditioning water in the water tank 10 is heated before being supplied to the air-conditioning member, it takes a long time for the heated the air-conditioning water to be supplied. That is, it is difficult to promptly supply the heated air-conditioning water. In addition, when the temperature of the air-conditioning water in the water tank 10 is maintained at about 70° C., temperatures of the control parts and the pump motor 20 increase due to the increase in the inside temperature of the hot-water system 1. This reduces the life spans of the parts and equipment.

Moreover, since the entire air-conditioning water in the water tank 10 has to be heated, the temperature distribution of the air-conditioning water is not uniform. Accordingly, it is difficult to achieve precise temperature control. That is, since a large amount of air-conditioning water has to be heated by the water heater, it is difficult to supply the air-conditioning water heated to a precise and accurate temperature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and is intended to provide an instantaneous and efficient hot-water system (1) which is structured to be installed in the middle of a connection pipe that is connected between an air-conditioning member and a pump motor which is used to circulate air-conditioning water in order to promptly supply heated air-conditioning water to the air-conditioning member, and (2) which is configured to selectively heat a predetermined partial volume of the air-conditioning water rather than heat the entire volume of the air-conditioning water in order to reduce a heating capacity and a radiant area compared to conventional hot-water systems so that power consumption can be reduced.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an instantaneous hot-water system including a water tank having a water inlet and a water outlet and storing air-conditioning water; a pump motor which is connected to the water outlet of the water tank through a connection pipe at one end thereof and is used to circulate the air-conditioning water in the water tank; an instantaneous water heater which is connected to the other end of the pump motor and which instantaneously heats the air-conditioning water circulated in accordance with a pumping operation of the pump motor; and an air-conditioning member which is connected to both of the instantaneous water heater and the water tank by a connection pipe to form an air-conditioning fluid path of a closed loop for guiding the flow of the air-conditioning water, wherein the surface temperature of the air-conditioning member is raised by the heat of the heated air-conditioning water supplied from the instantaneous water heater.

The outlet of the water tank may be bifurcated to include a first connection portion to which an end of the connection pipe connected to the pump motor is connected and a second connection portion connected to the other end of the connection pipe connected to the air-conditioning member so that the air-conditioning water flowing out of the air-conditioning member can circulate.

The first connection portion may have a back flow preventing member inside thereof, which turns in a hinged manner to open or close the first connection portion according to the amount of discharged air-conditioning water so that back flow of the air-conditioning water in the direction of the water tank and the second connection portion is not allowed. A stopper protrusion is formed to protrude from the inside wall surface of the first connection portion to restrict the turning movement of an end of the back flow preventing member when the back flow preventing member turns in a direction that closes the first connection portion so that the turning range of the back flow preventing member can be restricted.

The air-conditioning member may be a movable structure such as a hot-water mat or a hot-water panel, or a fixed structure such as a radiant heating floor structure formed by burying an air-conditioning fluid path under the floor of a building.

The instantaneous hot-water system may be further equipped with a controller that controls operations of the pump motor and the instantaneous water heater, and the instantaneous water heater may include a temperature sensor installed at a place to which the air-conditioning member is connected and from which water is discharged, and a bimetal switch or a thermal fuse installed at the place to which the air-conditioning member is connected and from which the water is discharged in order to stop power supply and hence stop an instantaneous heating operation when the air-conditioning water is instantaneously overheated.

The instantaneous water heater may be further equipped with a heating element made of ceramic or stainless steel to promptly heat the air-conditioning water flowing along the surface of the water heater.

As described above, the present invention is a system for rapidly heating the air-conditioning water flowing along the air-conditioning water supply path rather than a system for heating all of the air-conditioning water in the water tank. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the heating capacity and the radiant area so that power consumption may be reduced.

The air-conditioning water being supplied to the air-conditioning member is intensively heated while it is flowing along the air-conditioning water supply path. Accordingly, it is possible to supply the air-conditioning water maintained at a predetermined temperature to the air-conditioning member as well as to promptly heat the air-conditioning water and supply the heated air-conditioning water to the air-conditioning member.

Furthermore, since the instantaneous water heater is not installed to heat the inside of the water tank but the instantaneous water heater is installed on the air-conditioning water supply path, it is possible to prevent the life spans of the parts made of lead, the pump motor, and the like from being reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hot-water system according to a related art;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hot-water system according to the related art;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an instantaneous hot-water system according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the instantaneous hot-water system according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a back flow preventing member and a stopper protrusion are formed in a first connection of the instantaneous hot-water system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Terms defined in the description of the invention presented below are selected in consideration of functions of the present invention and thus should not be construed to limit technical constitutional elements of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5, an instantaneous hot-water system 100 according to the present invention includes a water tank 200, a pump motor 300, an instantaneous water heater 400, and an air-conditioning member 500. The water tank 200 has a water inlet 220 and a water outlet 230 and stores air-conditioning water. The pump motor 300 is connected to the water outlet 230 of the water tank by a connection pipe 600 at an end thereof and circulates the air-conditioning water stored in the water tank 100 by pumping the air-conditioning water. The instantaneous water heater 400 is connected to the other end of the pump motor 300 and instantaneously increases the temperature of the air-conditioning water by instantaneously heating a predetermined partial volume of the air-conditioning water which is pumped by the pumping operation of the pump motor 300. The air-conditioning member 500 is connected to the instantaneous water heater 400 and the water tank 200 by a pipe to form an air-conditioning fluid path 530 of a closed loop and to guide the flow of the air-conditioning water. Further, the surface temperature of the air-conditioning member 500 increases due to the heat from the air-conditioning water instantaneously heated by the instantaneous water heater 400. Further, a controller (not shown) may be provided in the instantaneous hot-water system 100 so as to control the above-mentioned elements.

The water tank 200 acts as an auxiliary tank and thus replenishes the air-conditioning water when the air-conditioning water is not sufficient due to evaporation or the like. Accordingly, the water tank in the present embodiments is used only as a storage tank for the air-conditioning water unlike the water tanks of conventional hot-water systems.

The water tank 200 structured in the above-described way has a space portion 210 inside thereof to store the air-conditioning water. Moreover, the water inlet 220 of the water tank 200 acts as a water supply port that allows the supply of the air-conditioning water to the water tank, and as a pressure relief vent for pressure relief. In addition, an additional attachable and detachable lid (not denoted by a reference sign) can be coupled to the water tank in a screwed manner to cover the water inlet 220 of the water tank 200.

In the water tank 200, a level sensor 240 is provided to detect the presence or absence of the air-conditioning water in the water tank 200 so that the pump motor 300 and the instantaneous water heater 400 may not operate when there is no air-conditioning water in the water tank 200. The level sensor 240 is installed in a manner that an end of the level sensor 240 which is a sensing portion is inserted into the space portion 210 through an upper portion of the water tank 200. The top end of the level sensor 240 is exposed to the air and the top end may be connected to a cable which is also connected to the controller.

The water tank 200 further includes a first connection portion 231 and a second connection portion 232. The first connection portion 231 is connected to an end of a connection pipe 600 extending from the water outlet 230 and connected to the pump motor 300. The second connection portion 232 is connected to the other end of the connection pipe 600 which is bifurcated from the first connection portion 231 to extend in a horizontal direction. The second connection portion 232 guides the air-conditioning water, which is discharged from an air-conditioning fluid path 530 of the air-conditioning member 500 after being heat-exchanged, to the first connection portion 231.

The first connection portion 231 extends in the vertical direction and discharges the air-conditioning water in the water tank 200 to the pump motor 300. The second connection portion 232 extends in the horizontal direction and returns the air-conditioning water, which is discharged from the air-conditioning member 500 after being heat-exchanged, to the water outlet 230 of the water tank 200 and the first connection portion 231.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the first connection portion 231, a back flow preventing member 250 is installed. The back flow preventing member 250 opens or closes the first connection portion 231 by turning in a hinged manner so that the discharged air-conditioning water cannot flow back to the water outlet 230 of the water tank 100. When the back flow preventing member 250 turns in a closing direction, a closing turning operation thereof is restricted by a stopper protrusion 260 protruding from the inside wall surface of the first connection portion 231.

The shape of the back flow preventing member 250 is a shape having a diameter matching the inner diameter of the first connection portion 231. When an end of the back flow preventing member 250 that is blocked by the stopper protrusion 260 so as not to turn further, that is, when the back flow preventing member 250 is in a horizontal posture, the inside of the inner diameter portion of the first connection portion 231 is completely isolated so that the back flow of the air-conditioning water is not allowed.

Conversely, when the other end of the back flow preventing member 250 turns in an opening direction, that is, turns downward due to the pressure of the air-conditioning water, the air-conditioning water stored in the water tank 200 is discharged downward. The back flow preventing member 250 may be made of synthetic resin, rubber material, or the like.

The pump motor 300 has a third connection portion 310 serving as a water inlet at an end thereof and a fourth connection portion 320 at the other end thereof. The third connection portion 310 is linked to the first connection portion 231 through the connection pipe 600, and the fourth connection portion 320 is connected to the instantaneous water heater 400.

The connection pipe 600 connects the first connection portion 231 and the third connection portion 310 of the pump motor 300 to each other, and connects the fourth connection portion 320 and a water inlet portion of the instantaneous water heater 400 to each other. The connection pipe 600 also connects a water outlet portion of the instantaneous water heater 400 and a fifth connection portion 510 of the air-conditioning member 500 to each other, and connects a sixth connection portion 520 of the air-conditioning member 500 and the second connection portion 232 of the water tank 200 to each other.

The air-conditioning member 500 is kept warm at a predetermined temperature when it has been installed at a place (on a bed of floor of a bedroom) where it will be used and then has received the air-conditioning water heated by the instantaneous water heater 400. The air-conditioning water in the air-conditioning member is returned to the water tank 200 after the heat-exchange.

In order to enable the operation described above, the air-conditioning member 500 is equipped with the fifth connection portion 510 serving as a water supply port at a portion thereof so that the heated air-conditioning water can be supplied to the air-conditioning member 500 and with the sixth connection portion 520 serving as a water discharge port at another portion thereof so that the air-conditioning water can be discharged from the air-conditioning member.

The heated air-conditioning water supplied to the air-conditioning member 500 through the fifth connection portion 510 flows along the fluid path 530 having a zigzag form and is then discharged through the sixth connection portion 520.

The air-conditioning water discharged through the sixth connection portion 520 flows through the connection pipe 600 and is then returned to the water tank 200 through the second connection portion 232 and is then stored in the space portion 210 of the water tank 200. The air-conditioning member 500 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, fabric, or metal. The air-conditioning member 500 may be made of various materials and may be formed in various forms according to installation places.

The air-conditioning member may be a movable structure such as a hot-water mat or a hot-water panel. Alternatively, the air-conditioning member may be a fixed structure such as a radiant heating floor structure installed on the floor of a building in a manner to bury an air-conditioning fluid path 530 under the floor.

When the air-conditioning member 500 is a movable structure, it can be used in a state in which it is laid on the floor of a bedroom or on a bed which is required to be warmed. When the air-conditioning member 500 is a radiant heating floor structure, it can be installed in the floors of bedrooms in general households.

The instantaneous water heater 400 is installed on the connection pipe 600 that is connected between the pump motor 300 and the air-conditioning member 500 so that the instantaneous water heater 400 can instantaneously heat the air-conditioning water flowing through the connection pipe 600. The instantaneous water heater 400 may further include a heating element (not shown) made of ceramic or stainless steel to rapidly heat the air-conditioning water flowing near the surface thereof. The connection pipe 600 may have connection portions (not shown) serving as a water supply port and a water discharge portion, respectively and also be connected to the instantaneous water heater 400.

The instantaneous water heater 400 may further include a temperature sensor 410 for detecting a temperature of water at a place to which the air-conditioning member 500 is connected and from which the air-conditioning water is discharged. The temperature sensor 410 transmits the detected temperature to the controller. When the detected temperature exceeds the temperature which is preset in the controller, the controller controls the ON/OFF state of the instantaneous water heater 400 so that the temperature of the air-conditioning water may not exceed the preset temperature.

The instantaneous water heater 400 may further include a bimetal switch 420 or a thermal fuse 430 at the place to which the air-conditioning member 400 is connected and from which the air-conditioning water is discharged in order to stop power supply to the instantaneous water heater 400 and hence to stop the operation of the instantaneous water heater 400 when overheating occurs so that the temperature of the air-conditioning water may not increase any further.

Hereinafter, the operation of the instantaneous hot-water system according to the present invention will be described below.

First, when operation of the pump motor 300 and the operation of the instantaneous water heater 400 of the instantaneous hot-water system 100 are started, the air-conditioning water in the water tank 200 is introduced into the pump motor 300 through the first connection portion 231, and the air-conditioning water passing out of the pump motor 300 is then introduced into the air-conditioning member 500 via the instantaneous water heater 400.

At this time, since the instantaneous water heater 400 instantaneously heats the flowing air-conditioning water, the air-conditioning water of an appropriate temperature can be supplied to the air-conditioning member 500. Moreover, the temperature sensor 410 installed in the water outlet of the instantaneous water heater 400 detects the temperature of the air-conditioning water being discharged from the instantaneous water heater 400 and sends the detected temperature to the controller so that the air-conditioning water having a predetermined temperature can be supplied to the air-conditioning member 500.

Next, the air-conditioning water which has circulated along the air-conditioning fluid path 530 of the air-conditioning member 500 is discharged through the water outlet of the air-conditioning member 500 and is then returned to the water tank 200 through the second connection portion 232.

In a state in which the inside of the air-conditioning member 500 is completely full of the air-conditioning water, operation of the pump motor 300 is started so that the air-conditioning water can be circulated. At this time, the air-conditioning water in the water tank 200 is still stored as it is, and the air-conditioning water being discharged out of the air-conditioning member 500 through the water outlet is introduced into the pump motor 300 so that only the air-conditioning water in the air-conditioning member can be circulated. That is, the water pressure generated by the pump motor 300 prevents the air-conditioning water in the water tank from being introduced into the air-conditioning member 500.

Further, the back flow preventing member 250 installed in the first connection portion 231 prevents the air-conditioning water directed toward the pump motor from flowing back to the water tank 200. Accordingly, the air-conditioning water in the water tank 200 is not heated so that unnecessary power consumption can be prevented.

In other words, the hot-water system according to the prevention is not a system of heating the entire air-conditioning water stored in the water tank 200 but is a system of rapidly heating the air-conditioning water flowing along the air-conditioning water supply path. Accordingly, the hot-water system according to the present invention has a small heating capacity and hence a small radiant area so that power consumption can be reduced.

Moreover, since the hot-water system according to the present invention is a system of intensively heating the air-conditioning water on the air-conditioning water supply path, it is possible to not only supply the air-conditioning water maintained at a predetermined temperature to the air-conditioning member but also quickly heat and supply the air-conditioning water to the air-conditioning member.

Moreover, since the hot-water system according to the present invention is not a system of heating the inside of the water tank 200 but a system of employing the instantaneous water heater 400 installed on the air-conditioning water supply path, it is possible to prevent the life spans of the parts made of lead, the pump motor, and the like from being reduced.

The technical spirit of the instantaneous hot-water system 100 has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings and the description is just given to exemplarily present preferred embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the description should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims and such modifications, alternations, changes, and equivalents may fall within the technical scope of the invention. 

1. An instantaneous hot-water system comprising: a water tank with a water inlet and a water outlet, the water tank being configured to store air-conditioning water; a pump motor with an end connected to the water outlet of the water tank through a connection pipe, the pump motor being configured to pump the air-conditioning water out of the water tank so that the air-conditioning water is circulated; an instantaneous water heater connected to the other end of the pump motor by a connection pipe and configured to instantaneously heat the air-conditioning water being circulated by a pumping operation of the pump motor; and an air-conditioning member connected to the instantaneous water heater and the water tank by a connection pipe so as to form an air-conditioning fluid path of a closed loop and to guide flow of the air-conditioning water, a structure of the air-conditioning member being that of a hot-water mat or a hot-water panel so that a surface temperature of the air-conditioning member is increased by heat of the air-conditioning water which is instantaneously heated and supplied by the instantaneously water heater, wherein the water outlet of the water tank includes a first connection portion to which an end of a connection pipe, which is connected to the pump motor, is connected, and wherein a second connection portion is bifurcated from an end of the first connection portion and is connected to the other end of the connection pipe, which is connected to the air-conditioning member, so that, when the air-conditioning water is circulated by the pumping operation of the pump motor in a state in which the air-conditioning water is stored in the water tank, the air-conditioning water discharged out of a water outlet of the air-conditioning member is returned to the pump motor through the first connection by water pressure generated by the pumping operation of the pump motor while the air-conditioning water in the water tank is stored in an uncirculated state.
 2. The instantaneous hot-water system according to claim 1, further comprising: a back flow preventing member installed in the first connection portion and configured to turn in a hinged manner in an opening direction to open the first connection portion or a closing direction to close the first connection portion in accordance with a discharge amount of the air-conditioning water so that back flow of the air-conditioning water to the water tank and the second connection portion is prevented; and a stopper protrusion formed on an inside wall surface of the first connection portion and configured to restrict a turning range of the back flow preventing member in a manner that the stopper protrusion blocks an end of the back flow preventing member so as not to turn further when the back flow preventing member is turned in the closing direction.
 3. The instantaneous hot-water system according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to control operations of the pump motor and the instantaneous water heater, wherein the instantaneous water heater includes a temperature sensor installed at a place to which the air-conditioning member is connected and from which the air-conditioning water is discharged, in order to detect a water temperature and transmit the detected water temperature to the controller, and a bimetal switch or a thermal fuse installed at the place to which the air-conditioning member is connected and from which the air-conditioning water is discharged, in order to interrupt a power supply and hence stop an instantaneous heating operation when the air-circulating water is overheated when the air-conditioning water is instantaneously heated. 